Gale Force Solent - Red Funnel Easter Challenge Race

Day one of the Red Funnel Easter Challenge saw strong north westerly winds, gusting over 40 knots. The fresh gale combined with spring tides whipped up the Solent into a foaming and confused state. The Royal Ocean Racing Club decided to postpone racing for one hour in the hope of getting at least one race in for the competitors.

However the conditions failed to improve as PRO Jamie Wilkinson explains; “We decided to postpone racing until 1500 to avoid wind against tide. Although the wind occasionally dropped to about 25 knots, it was regularly at 35 knots and occasionally gusting over 40.The foredeck on the committee boat was pretty precarious and although we could have anchored, it would have been very dangerous to run a race from the deck of the boat.”

Three races are schedule for day two of the Red Funnel Easter Challenge, however the weather forecast for tomorrow is looking very much the same. If racing is not possible, a provision has been in put in place for the competitors to have a coaching session in Cowes Yacht Haven Event Centre, as Jim Saltonstall explains; “Tomorrow morning, if a decision is made not to sail, then the plan is to try and get as many people as possible for a training session on dry land. Myself, Barry Dunning, Cathy Foster and Eddie Warden-Owen will be giving an hour lecture or possibly longer, on Championship preparation. It will be a shame if we can’t race but we have to make the most of it.”

Dogs off chains - Racing cancelled on Day 2 of the Red Funnel Easter Challenge

“The reasons for calling off racing early this morning was that the wind is much the same as yesterday or even slightly stronger.” Commented, RORC Chief Executive, Eddie Warden-Owen.

“It would have been tough or nigh on impossible to have raced today. We decided to make the decision early, so that people can decide what they want to do with the rest of the day and we hope we can run some good races tomorrow.”

The Red Funnel Easter Challenge may have been blown out for the second day but the competitors will had a golden opportunity to take advantage of the facilities made available by the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Cowes Yacht Haven events centre was the setting for a workshop, led by some of the top racing coaches in the world on Championship Preparation.

Jim Saltonstall, Cathy Foster, Barry Dunning, Jamie Wilkinson and Eddie Warden-Owen were centre stage, along with Dave Atkinson from the RYA and weather expert Mike Broughton. About 300 competitors attended the briefing. The main focus was on preparing boat and crew for a busy season of RORC racing ahead. There was a lively discussion between the panel and the audience, covering the important aspects of preparing for the season as well as detailed explanations of some of the rules of sailing.

Tonight the crews are enjoying supper at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club to prepare themselves for racing tomorrow.

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